The Snow College Lady Badgers participated in the Scenic West Conference Softball Tournament this past week, losing their first game to the College of Southern Nevada, 6-11, and dropping into the elimination bracket.
On Thursday morning, the Badgers played Utah State University-Eastern, who they had split the season series with 4-4.
Snow started out hot and led 7-3 at the end of three innings. The Eagles battled back, tying the score at 7 after six innings. In the top of the seventh inning, Snow added four runs off of a home run by MaKenzie Evans and doubles by Bailey Theuer, Kaylee Lyman and Stormie Gee. The Snow defense held USU-E to one hit and one left on base in the bottom of the seventh to win, 11-7.
Thursday afternoon brought a rematch against CSN. The game was tight throughout regulation innings, with the lead changing four times and ending up tied at five after seven innings. Snow added one run in the top of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. CSN added one run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game again and send it to extra innings.
With two outs, the Badgers’ offense came to life. Theuer doubled to centerfield, scoring Shumway and Evans, to make the score 9-6. Katie Gibbs singled to left field and advanced Theuer to third base. Gee was up next and reached second on an error. Theuer and Gibbs scored on the play, increasing the score to 11-6.
Mady Lackey reached second on another CSN error, and Hoggan added a single, Shumway and Evans walked, Hadley and Lyman doubled, and Gibbs and Theuer singled. The top of the inning ended after a Stormie Gee fly out to left field, but the damage was done: the Badgers had scored 13 runs in the top of the eighth inning and had the lead. Hoggan allowed only one hit in the bottom of the eighth, and the Badgers went on win the game, 19-6.
The Lady Badgers fell to Salt Lake Community College in the semifinal game, 2-10. The Bruins scored 6 runs in the first inning, and a home run by Bailey Theuer and hits by Shumway and Gibbs were not enough to overcome the deficit. The Badgers l 10-2, ending the 2022 season.
Hoggan and Evans were both named to the SWAC 2022 All-Tournament Team.
The top 25 player batting averages for the 2022 season included Hoggan (#17, .391), Evans (#21, .377), Shumway (#24, .367) and Staylee Hadley (#12, .414).
Kynlee Hoggan was named to the All-Conference 1st team, and Staylee Hadley, Kenzie Evans and Jaci Shumway were named to the 2nd team. Dashani Purcell and Sage Bowers received honorable mentions.